Seven
states in the North declined to sponsor Christian Pilgrims last year, it
emerged yesterday.
states in the North declined to sponsor Christian Pilgrims last year, it
emerged yesterday.
The
Federal Government delegation to the 2012 Christian pilgrimage to the Holy land
listed the states as Jigawa, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Benue and Gombe.
Federal Government delegation to the 2012 Christian pilgrimage to the Holy land
listed the states as Jigawa, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Benue and Gombe.
The
delegation, led by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor, submitted its report to President Goodluck Jonathan.
delegation, led by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor, submitted its report to President Goodluck Jonathan.
It
announced that 16,372 Nigerians participated in the Christian pilgrimage.
announced that 16,372 Nigerians participated in the Christian pilgrimage.
Promising
to discuss with the states, President Jonathan maintained that the Federal
Government cannot force any state government to sponsor pilgrims if they do not
want to do so.
to discuss with the states, President Jonathan maintained that the Federal
Government cannot force any state government to sponsor pilgrims if they do not
want to do so.
But he
cautioned that such a decision not to sponsor pilgrims must affect both
Christian and Muslim pilgrims.
cautioned that such a decision not to sponsor pilgrims must affect both
Christian and Muslim pilgrims.
He
said: “Government cannot force state governments to sponsor pilgrims if they
don’t want to do so. If they decide to pull out from sponsoring pilgrims, there
is nothing we can do. But if some state governments are sponsoring pilgrims of
one religion and leaving out the other, that is against the law. Nigeria is a
secular state and so nobody should be discriminated against based on religious
belief.”
said: “Government cannot force state governments to sponsor pilgrims if they
don’t want to do so. If they decide to pull out from sponsoring pilgrims, there
is nothing we can do. But if some state governments are sponsoring pilgrims of
one religion and leaving out the other, that is against the law. Nigeria is a
secular state and so nobody should be discriminated against based on religious
belief.”
Jonathan
also promised the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) for its efforts
in winning the confidence of the Italian authorities.
also promised the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) for its efforts
in winning the confidence of the Italian authorities.
“I am
pleased to hear that Italian authorities now rely on the commission to issue
visa to intending pilgrims. It is a sign of confidence in the commission, led
by John Okpara and, indeed, in the country,” he added
pleased to hear that Italian authorities now rely on the commission to issue
visa to intending pilgrims. It is a sign of confidence in the commission, led
by John Okpara and, indeed, in the country,” he added
He also
listed other achievements of the NCPC to include the absence of cases of
pilgrims absconding during pilgrimage to the holy land and improvements in the
organisation of the annual exercise with no negative report emanating from the
program.
listed other achievements of the NCPC to include the absence of cases of
pilgrims absconding during pilgrimage to the holy land and improvements in the
organisation of the annual exercise with no negative report emanating from the
program.
Indicating
interest to attend this year’s pilgrimage, Jonathan said it would afford him
the opportunity to engage authorities of the State of Israel on the need for a
Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Israel to make the journey
from Nigeria less stressful.
interest to attend this year’s pilgrimage, Jonathan said it would afford him
the opportunity to engage authorities of the State of Israel on the need for a
Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Israel to make the journey
from Nigeria less stressful.
He
promised to consider the recommendation that members of the Federal Government
delegation be given a two-year tenure instead of the present arrangement where
members are appointed yearly.
promised to consider the recommendation that members of the Federal Government
delegation be given a two-year tenure instead of the present arrangement where
members are appointed yearly.
He
said: “We shall look at your suggestion that the government delegation be given
two-year tenure. There is a sense in the suggestion because there will be
continuity and memory. Such decision will also help me because I won’t keep
appointing people everyday.
said: “We shall look at your suggestion that the government delegation be given
two-year tenure. There is a sense in the suggestion because there will be
continuity and memory. Such decision will also help me because I won’t keep
appointing people everyday.
“It was
for the same reason of continuity and institutional memory that we decided that
the Sultan, by virtue of his position, be the permanent leader of the
government delegation for Muslim pilgrimage while the President of the
Christian Association of Nigeria leads that of Christian pilgrimage every
year,” he said.
for the same reason of continuity and institutional memory that we decided that
the Sultan, by virtue of his position, be the permanent leader of the
government delegation for Muslim pilgrimage while the President of the
Christian Association of Nigeria leads that of Christian pilgrimage every
year,” he said.
Presenting
the report, Pastor Oritsejafor said there was a sharp reduction in the number
of Christians who participated in the 2012 pilgrimage when compared with the
figure of the previous year. He recommended the need for the Federal Government
delegation for every year to be inaugurated early enough to give them ample
time to plan.
the report, Pastor Oritsejafor said there was a sharp reduction in the number
of Christians who participated in the 2012 pilgrimage when compared with the
figure of the previous year. He recommended the need for the Federal Government
delegation for every year to be inaugurated early enough to give them ample
time to plan.
Pastor
Oritsejafor was accompanied by the Chairman of the NCPC, the Most Rev. Nicholas
Okoh; the Executive Secretary, Mr. John Okpara; the Chaplain to the President,
Ven. Obioma Onwuzuruba; Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and
other members of the 11-man Federal Government delegation.
Oritsejafor was accompanied by the Chairman of the NCPC, the Most Rev. Nicholas
Okoh; the Executive Secretary, Mr. John Okpara; the Chaplain to the President,
Ven. Obioma Onwuzuruba; Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and
other members of the 11-man Federal Government delegation.
Source: The Nation
